The James
and Marilynn Alsdorf
Collection is the jewel in the crown of Christie's Indian and
Southeast Asian Art sale this spring, which garnered great interest
and admiration from visitors in previews in Christie's galleries.
This vibrant collection radiates with the enthusiasm of its owners,
who have a strong affinity for the ancient cultures and traditions
of India, Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region, reflected in
this sale that includes choice works of art in all price ranges.

The
auction has 120
museum-quality works from
the distinguished collection of long-time patrons of the Art Institute
of Chicago include iconic pieces that were also exhibited at the
Art Institute, where James Alsdorf served as Chairman from 1975
to 1978, and where Marilynn Alsdorf contniues to serve on various
committees. Over some years, part of their collection was donated
to the Art Institute and part given on long-term loan. The superb
"A Gilt Bronze Figure of Indra," from Nepal, (Lot 80,
estimate $250,000 to $350,000), illustrated with Ganesha at the top
of this story, and other works from the collection were the subject
of a special exhibition and publication in 1997, and were reinstalled
in 2008 in gallery space designed by Renzo Piano.

The auction total was $4,486,438. Hugo
Weihe, International Director of Asian Art and Specialist Head of
Indian and Southeast Asian Art in New York, said that "we saw clients
from all over the world and new clients from various other categories
come together to embrace the legacy built by James and Marilynn
Alsdorf," adding that "Museum quality works with an illustrious history
were much sought after, and the 10th Century Sandstone figure of
Ganesha set a new record for a sculpture of this much-beloved deity,
achieving $932,500. We are delighted to have introduced the
Alsdorfs' vision to both new and seasoned collectors."

The top lot of the sale was Lot 118, a rare
Tibeto-Chinese, Qianlong, conch shell with gilt copper and enamel
champlevé that sold for $1,202,500 to an Asian private collector including the buyer's premium as do
all results mentioned in this article. It had an estimate of
$200,000 to $300,000.

The
floral arrangement
in Christie's galleries echoes the gorgeous light and colors of
the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia

"My
husband and I were
captivated by the beauty of Indian and Southeast Asian art, and
by the vision it embodies of a life in which the human and divine
are unselfconsciously intermingled. We looked for objects to delight
our eyes and souls, rather than objects that embodied particular
ritual practices or exemplified specific religious texts"
(Marilynn Alsdorf, "A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan
and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf
Collection,"
Pratapaditya Pal, published 1997, from Christie's catalogue for
this sale)

Hugo
Weihe, Christie's
International Director, Asian Art, talks about the highlights
of the sale

Among many
evocative photographs
of the Alsdorfs in Southeast Asia, there is a joyful one of them
riding on an elephant in Jaipur, a treat that can still be had
today at some of the finest forts and fabled cities in India and
Southeast Asia. Riding on any elephant to see anything is the
most wonderful experience, and it is reflected in the happy faces
of the Alsdorfs. Pachiderms are high maintenance when there is
no river nearby for them to bathe in, a weary but devoted mahout
once told me. Arranging a bath in land-locked fort towns where
water is scarce is particularly challenging, he said.

But such
mundane, earthly problems
would never concern good-natured Ganesha.

Lot 45,
(estimate $100,000 to $150,000),
"A Stone Figure of Ganesha," illustrated above, is one
of several fine examples of the playful god on offer in this sale,
depicted wearing a flamboyant headdress. Another beautiful, and
diminutive rendition of the god that is 3 7/8 inches high is Lot
38, "A Sandstone Figure of Ganesha," from the 4th century,
and has a very reasonable estimate of $1,500 to $2,500. There are
several others in all price ranges that join an all star cast
of Ganeshas in this prized collection. Lot 45 sold for
$326,500. Lot 38 sold for $1,375.

Ganesha,
with his fantastical
elephant head, is also embraced by other religions, as noted in
Christie's catalogue for this sale:

"Although
primarily a
Hindu diety, Ganesha is also part of Buddhism and Jainism. In
India Jains place Ganesha in doorways of temples and propitiate
him at the beginning of ceremonies to remove obstacles."

An
especially animated and
joyful Ganesha is from the 10th century (Uttar Pradesh) and one
of the highlights of the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection.
In the photo above it stands behind Sandhya Jain Patel, Christie's
Specialist, Southeast Asian Art. Probably the most popular diety
in India, and visible in every nook and cranny across the sub-continent
from shops and bazaars to fine hotels, museums and temples, it
was moving to see visitors in Christie's galleries follow the
ancient custom of placing coins at the base of all the Ganeshas,
and especially this one. I added my coin. Lot 42, "A Sandstone
Figure of Ganesha," is as winsome an interpretation of the
god as it gets, and has an estimate $250,000 to $350,000. It has been
on loan to The Art Institute of Chicago since 1999 (lucky viewers!)
and reflects Marilynn Alsdorf's passion for Ganesha, with many
represented in this sale. Christie's catalogue for this sale notes:

"Ganesha,
the lovable
and mischievous elephant-headed god from the Hindu pantheon, is
widely revered as the Lord of Beginnings and the Lord of Obstacles.
His rotund belly is not only appropriate to his pachydermic nature,
but also reinforces his identity as a symbol of abundance. As
a paragon of wisdom, he broke off his own tusk and fashioned it
into a pen to record the Mahabaharata as the great safe Vyasa
recited it. When he dances, he echoes his father Shiva, but with
child-like form and a joyful manner befitting his role as leader
of Shiva's followers."

Lot 19, "A
Bronze Bust
of Buddha," is from Thailand and was created in the 8th-9th
century, his fingers - were all present - would have shown the
thumb and forefinger joined at the tips forming a circle representing
both perfection and eternity: "As expressed by Jean Boisselier
in 'The Heritage of Thai Sculpture,' 1975, 'The school of Dvaravati
may stand alongside the great Buddhist artistic traditions of
India, so enduring were its innovations and so persuasive its
influence on most of the art of Southeast Asia'" (Christie's
catalogue for this sale.) Lot 19 has an estimate of $80,000 to
$120,000. It
passed.

Not
illustrated, and incredibly
beautiful are several noteworthy lots, including Lot 96, "A
Pair of Sandstone Arms of Vishnu," Khmer, Pre-Angkor Period,
7th Century, that has an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. It sold for $5,250.
Lot 121, "A Set of Gold Damascened
Iron Door Fittings" from Tibet, dates from the 15th century,
and would be a fantastic addition to any home. The estimate for
them is $10,000 to $15,000. It
sold for $47,500. There are fine works of art from across
Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Sadly it is not possible to
include them all.

The
beautiful stone "devis"
shown above, Lot 65, are depicted holding hands, representing
the union of the earthly and the divine. Goddesses and devis abound
in this collection, a manifestation of "the feminine divine"
and the veneration of the female goddess by Hindus and Buddhists
that is so evident in India, and Southeast Asia. There are goddesses
literally everywhere! Lot 65 has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.
It sold for $17,500. Lot 75, a silver-ground
Thangka of Bajrasattva Heruka and Vajragarvi from Tibet, 18-19th
Century, 29 3/8 by 19 3/4 inches, sold for $6,875.

Lot 74 is
a granite figure of a goddess from South India, Tamilnadu.
It is 63 inches high and dates to the 12th Century.
It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It passed.

The
Alsdorff's first visit
to India was in 1968 and "included a meeting with Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi, which had been arranged by the French Minister
of Cultural Affairs, Andre Malraux, close friend of the Gandharan
and Khmer art dealer Robert Rousset. They had met Rousset in Paris
in 1955 and acquired their first piece from him. Other encounters
included the famed Asian art dealer C.T. Loo, as well as Pierre
Matisse who introduced them to Alverto Giacometti, reflecting
other interests of their collecting. Among the European museums
they would repeatedly visit without fail were the Musée Guimet,
as well as the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
as to constantly educate and refresh their eyes" (Christie's
catalogue for this sale).

On the shelf illustrated above
are three wood, painted, Tibetan mandalas from the 19th century,
each with estimates of $6,000 to $8,000, from The James and Marilynn
Collection. The other works of art will be offered at Christie's
Indian and Southeast Asian Art sale, at 2 pm, which is reviewed
separately.

Many of
the works of art illustrated
here and on offer in this sale have been on loan to The Art Insitute
of Chicago for decades, a testimony to the generosity or spirit
of the Alsdorfs. Without generous collectors and patrons that
lend their works to museums and institutions, great art and artifacts
like those illustrated here would be hidden from public view.

Commenting
on the incredible
variety and range of Asian art and artifacts on offer at Christie's
Asian Art Week this season, Mr. Weihe, Christie's International
Director Asian Art, said:

"This is
the largest sale
we have ever put together for Asian Art Week, and it is also one
of the best." Mr. Weihe said that the pre-sale estimate for
the series of sales was in the region of $65 million, "but
of course we hope to do better" he added with a smile.

What is
astonishing is the
democratic range in prices for superb works of art this season,
reflecting a welcome trend that is likely to encourage new buyers
to the salesrooms, who - at last - can begin to imagine having
collections of their own.

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